By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) — A photo of a woman in apparent pain and being transported by ambulance from an abortion clinic has raised concerns that an abortion clinic in New Orleans is operating despite a statewide ban on non-essential and non-emergency medical procedures. The incident could be further evidence of the need for Act 620, a state law being argued by the Louisiana Attorney General Office before the U.S. Supreme Court, that would require abortionists to obtain admitting privileges with a local hospital in case of complications for the woman patient during or after an abortion. In November last year a woman endured a botched abortion at a Baton Rouge abortion clinic and the complications resulted in her having to undergo a total hysterectomy. Her emergency surgery was cited as evidence in support of Act 620 during oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in March. DISTURBING IMAGE Louisiana Right to Life posted the photo on April 21 and noted that the woman had been taken by stretcher from the Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans. Ben Clapper, executive director for the pro-life organization, said that ongoing abortions there and at the other two facilities, … [Read more...]
Washington association provides care packages, offers hope
Volunteers from the Washington Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, handed out 41 care packages to residents of Westminster Woods apartment complex in Bogalusa on Thursday, April 23. Hygiene products, grocery items, a Bible and information about the Louisiana Baptist Convention prayer line were among the items distributed. The prayer line is operational 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 800.410.3492. Those who participated were Patrick Magee, pastor at Main Street Baptist Church in Bogulsa and compassion strategist for the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, and his wife, Rebeca; Greg Whaley, pastor at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Mark Morelock, pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Davey Daniels, youth pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist; and Keith Sheridan, pastor at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa. … [Read more...]
Tornadoes strike Louisiana again
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--Three days after tornadoes and violent thunderstorms wreaked havoc in eastern and northern Louisiana, more tornadoes, swept through these regions, again, damaging buildings and causing one death, Wednesday, April 22. Among the hardest hit areas was Rapides Parish, where the violent weather claimed the life of a woman in Lecompte on Robinson Ridge Road. according to KALB. In this part of the parish, large trees were uprooted, roofs were blown off houses and power lines were downed. On the Louisiana State University of Alexandria campus, high winds destroyed parts of the roof and a section of cinder block wall of a facility which is part of the Agricultural Center. Other nearby buildings were extensively impacted, too. The school posted an update on its Facebook page, saying there was "damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over. The Oaks (apartments) and students are ok, but no power on campus.” AROUND THE STATE The City of Mansfield also experienced a storm-related fatality. KSLA-TV in Shreveport reported that a man was trying to retrieve his garbage can and fell into a flooded canal off Gibbs Street. His body was recovered about 50 yards … [Read more...]
You are equipped
By Rebecca Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - When we first received Evan’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome, I was in my 5th month of pregnancy. One of my first thoughts when we received this news was, “This cannot be. I am not equipped to be a special needs parent!” Yet here we are 6.5 years later. We have read a lot, gotten guidance from doctors, and I have received a lot of advice from other special needs parents. However, most days we still feel ill-equipped for the job. There is a steep learning curve and much on-the-job training. But one thing I have realized over the years is that I was indeed equipped for this. My maternal grandmother was sick on and off most of my growing up years. Once my parents divorced when I was in high school and my mother went back to school to become a nurse, I helped care for her a lot – even taking her to doctor’s appointments and buying groceries for her when she was in the nursing home. As I said, my mother went back to nursing school when I was in high school, and I felt like I went to nursing school with her! She would teach me what she was learning, and after she was working full time, I got to hear many stories about her patients and how the doctors would treat them for various illnesses. Ten … [Read more...]
LC grad headed to NYC to fight COVID-19 on front lines
Retired LBC pastor’s wife, COVID-19 patient, passes
By Message Staff FAIRVIEW ALPHA, La. (LBM) - Nancy Spears, a member of Fairview Baptist Church in Fairview Alpha who in late March tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019, died Sunday, April 19. The cause of death was not immediately announced. According to a post from her husband, Wayne, a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor who now serves as CEO of Abbie Lane Retreat Ministry in Coushatta, a non-denominational 80-acre retreat facility for ministers and their wives, she died peacefully. “She was an awesome wife, loving mother, grandmother and friend to many,” Wayne Spears posted on his Facebook page Sunday. “Our family is grieving but at peace knowing she is home. Please know your many prayers were not in vain. God is still good, kind and gracious.” Wayne Spears said a funeral service will be held June 27, 11 a.m., at Fairmont Park Church in La Porte, Texas, followed by a memorial service at Fairview Baptist the next day at either 4 or 5 p.m. The services are scheduled in June in anticipation that the restrictions against gatherings of more than 10 people will have been lifted in both states by that time. “Thank you for the love, support, and care you have shown me and my family during this most difficult time … [Read more...]
Warden Sandy McCain succumbs to COVID-19
By Message Staff COTTONPORT, La. (LBM) - Sandy McCain, warden at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Cottonport, died Monday, April 20, after a battle with the Coronavirus Disease 2019. McCain, chairman of the deacons and a choir member with New Prospect Baptist Church in Dry Prong, first announced March 27 he had tested positive for COVID-19. McCain’s wife, Diane, and sons, Justin and Jeremy, shared on the New Prospect Baptist Facebook page that while they were deeply grieved, they received comfort because his faith was placed in Jesus. “Words cannot express the thankfulness we have for all your kind words and prayer during this difficult time. As we mourn with you, know that our grief is not without hope. Here are two passages of Scripture that will tell you where Sandy places his hope and where we would encourage you to place your hope even now: ‘But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14' ‘No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am … [Read more...]
Where the rubber meets the road
By Lane Corley Obedience is where the rubber meets the road in the Christian life. The Wheel Illustration was a tool a friend used to help me grow in my faith. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it is a simple way to help someone solidify the basics in the Christian life, identifying two verses with six topics that are must for believers. It’s the start of the Navigators Topical Memory System. Jesus is the Center of the Wheel. Fellowship, Witnessing, The Word of God, and Prayer are the spokes. But where the rubber meets the road is OBEDIENCE. It’s not enough just to know truth about Christianity. Putting it into practice through obedience is where the Christian life takes off. This is what I found out as I grew in my faith as a young believer. I struggled to make sense of church, as many do. But when I combined what I was learning, with active doing, the lights began to come on. Now, we don’t obey, so that we can be accepted by God. We’re accepted by God, because of Jesus’ work on the cross. We also don’t obey and work in our own power. We’re empowered by a resurrected and ascended Christ, who has sent His Spirit to be present with us as we follow him. The work of Christ and the power of Christ is promised to us when we believe … [Read more...]
Weekend storms hit Louisiana yet again
By Message Staff Violent storms rolled through the state for the second weekend in a row, this time packing high winds and damaging homes in the cities of Leesville and Mandeville as well as Natchitoches Parish on Sunday, April 19. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft told KPLC-TV that property damage was substantial and numerous power lines were knocked down on the northern edge of Leesville along Highway 171. He reported that there were no injuries in his area that were associated with the storm. A team from the National Weather Service was en route to Leesville Monday to survey damage and determine if a tornado had touched down. East Leesville Baptist Church reported a couple of downed trees and some siding blown off the back of its worship center. Pastor Tommy Kiker wrote on the church’s Facebook page that members of the church were serving others impacted by the storm, and they would continue the response throughout the week. “Thankfully it seems only property damage and no major injuries that we have heard of so far,” Kiker wrote. “Continue to pray for one another and as always as we serve may it be obvious we love God, Love people, Seek the Lost, and Make Disciples!” The Mandeville Police Department reported … [Read more...]
Report: 450,000 illegal immigrants are getting college degrees
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